Combined movable shooting figure and target

ABSTRACT

A combined movable shooting figure and target wherein the figure is driven along a plane closed path and various targets are positioned around the path. The targets automatically appear during the movement of the shooting figure while the player controls not only the aspect of the figure relative to the target but also the time of shooting.

United States Patent Edward 1. Parker 34 Oak Ridge Road, Holden, Mass. 774,56I

Oct. 3, I968 June 1, I971 Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented COMBINED MOVABLE SHOOTING FIGURE AND TARGET 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 273/101.2, 273/1022, 273/1052, 46/122 Int. Cl A63f 9/02 Field of Search 273/1012,

. 105.6, 102.2, lOl;46/1l8, 122

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,431,552 11/1947 Gosnell 273/101X 2,789,395 4/1957 Sprouse.... 46/122X 3,211,456 10/1965 Glass et a1 273/1012 3,318,599 5/1967 Zimmerman 273/1012 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-Norman S. Blodgett ABSTRACT: A combined movable shooting figure and target wherein the figure is driven along a plane closed path and various targets are positioned around the path. The targets automatically appear during the movement of the shooting figure while the player controls not only the aspect of the figure relative to the target but also the time of shooting.

PATENTED JUN 1 |97| SHEET 1 OF 4 INVENTOR EDWARD PAR/(El? ATTORNEY.

PATENT E D Jun H971 SHEET 2 [1F 4 F IG.

PATENTED JUN 1 I971 SHEET 0F 4 COMBINED MOVABLE SHOOTING FIGURE AND TARGET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a complex, modern world whose emphasis is logical thought and observation, many people who are involved with the development of the fuller human being are taking a closer look at the role that toys and games play in child development. Time and time again, it has been shown that, in general, children who are exposed to colors, varying textural and visual effects, operations requiring observation and .dexterity, and interesting mechanical movements and reactions, have developed into more sensitive and intelligent adults than have their uninspired contemporaries. With this philosophy in mind, the present invention incorporates such concepts into, a single game which is interesting and enjoyable to play. Most children's games fail to provide adequate stimulation of this type or training in manual-mental coordination. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a game which is interesting and enjoyable to play.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a game which involves observation,reason, and dexterity to bring about concerted operations.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a-game which indicates when a set of actions is performed correctly.

lt is another object of the instant invention to provide a game involving interesting sense effects such as color, texture, and motion.

A still further object ofthe invention is the provision of a target game involving multiple motion of the target and the shooting mechanism for giving maximum training in manualmental coordination.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a target game whose operative mechanism lends itself to inexpensive construction for widest dissemination.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a basic mechanism for use in a series of games, such as racing and maze-type games, all using the movement of an object over a surface in a remotely controlled manner.

With these and other objects in view as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combina- '-tion of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the present invention involves game apparatus having a boxlike body, having a shooting member which moves in a closed path on an upper surface of the body, having target members that appear and disappear suddenly on the said upper surface, having means for aiming .and firing the shooting member, and having means indicating a hit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of a game with a main body 11 which has a relatively flat upper surface 12. This surface portrays a shooting situation, such as a jungle scene. A

.remotelycontrolled member, such as a shooting member 13,

is shown as a hunter with a poised rifle, which hunter moves along a closed path 14 and can be stopped by pressing a button 15. The hunter is aimed by means of rotation on an axis perpendicular to the surface 12 and is controlled by a pistol grip 16. Targets 17, l8, l9, and 20 are situated at the corners of the main body 12 and normally reside under the surface. As the hunter approaches each target, it rises from the surface and, if the button 15 (which stops the hunter) is pressed, the target will remain in an upper, exposed position for a short period of time. During this time, the hunter remains in its stopped position and the target remains up. If no action is taken during this time period, the target will fall and the hunter starts to move again about the path 14. If, however, during this period, the player pulls the trigger 21, the target falls and the hunter then continues on his journey. Should the hunter's gun be aimed properly when the gun is fired, a light 22 will blink and indicate a hit. If several persons are participating in a game of skill, the player will be entitled to a score.

The above-described action is brought about by the mechanism shown in FIG. 2. The mechanism is mounted on a base 23 which is located inside the main body 11'. The hunter 13 is mounted on a rotatable platform 24 which, in turn, is located at the outer end of a motion-causing element, such as an arm 25. The arm 25 is fastened to a gear 26 which is rotated by a motor 27. The gear is mounted on bearings which connect the gear 26 to a bracket 28 but permit a cylinder 29 to slide freely up and down. The rotary motion of the pistol grip 16 is converted to horizontal linear motion by the line 30 and to vertical linear motion of the cylinder 29 operated by the lever 31. The cylinders motion causes linear motion in a line 32 and this operates through a lever 33, line 34, spring 35, and a pulley 36 (which is attached to the platform 24) to bring about a direct control of the hunters aim under the primary control of the pistol grip 16.

Time sequences are set up by slide contacts F, l, and G, which are closed by plates F, l, and an aiming circuit G. The aiming circuit G' is shown in FIG. 4, wherein is shown the previously mentioned platform 24, the arm 25, the pulley 36, and the line 34. Furthermore, a contact plate 45 is electrically connected to the contact plate 47 which is mounted on the underside of the platform 24. The contact plate 46 is electrically connected to a contact pin 48. The contact plate 46 and the pin 48 constitute a switch H and are so positioned as to be in contact when the platform is in a suitable angular position.

The hunter is mounted on top of the platform and the closing I of this switch I-I indicates correct aiming.

The target 17 is mounted on a plate 37 which is pivoted on the bracket 38. The movement of a flange 39 against a lever 40 causes a pulley 41, a line 42, and a spring 43 to bring the target from its horizontal retracted position under the surface 12 to the vertical position shown in the drawing and into contact with a dormant electromagnet 44. This movement of the target also closes a switch .1 (see FIG. 3) on the face of the magnet. Unless the magnet is energized, the target simply returns to its horizontal retracted position as the flange 39 passes. The electromagnet is only energized when'both the time switch B and the slide switch I are closed.

The time switch B is shown in FIG. 5. It involves a 10- second, delayed-retum spring mechanism 49 which is available commercially. It has a lever arm 50 which is biased to the left. The flange 51 (see FIG. 2) mounted beneath the main arm 25 moves the lever 50 to the right and releases it to be returned by its spring mechanism. The switch 52 is open when the arm is in its normal, extreme left position, but closes as the lever is moved to the right; it remains closed until the lever returns to the left.

A study of FIG. 3 will give an insight into the workings of the game. The game is activated by the main switch A. This causes the hunter toproceed around his path. The stop switch E can stop the hunter at any point except where the switch F is closed, and in this case, the arm will proceed off the switch F prongs and stop. This is a positioning device necessary to make the aiming device in this embodiment effective. If the arm crosses the apparatus without action by the player, the set time runs out, the target will rise and fall, and the switches F, l, and G will be closed and opened as the arm proceeds by. The light 22 wii] not indicate a hit and no amount of pulling oi the trigger 21 or aiming of the hunter will make it light; the player has lost his chance to hit the target.

If the player presses the stop switch E while switch F is closed, the arm will proceed to close the switch G and engage the switch D, set and release the timer switch B, and bring the target to its exposed position. The switch J, which is on the face of the electromagnet 44, will be closed by the vertical target, and the electromagnet will be energized through the circuit A, B, D, J, l, and 44. This circuit will be broken and the target will fall, if the set time runs out or the trigger is pulled. With the hunter stopped, the player aims the hunter and pulls the trigger. Once the trigger is puiled, the target falls and the hunter starts moving again through the medium of the circuit A, B, D, and 27. If the hunter is aimed properly when the triger is pulied, the switch H is closed and the light 22 will flash. If time runs out before the player fires, the target falls and the hunter continues along the path.

it is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and d3scribed, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A game, comprising a. a box-shaped body having an approximately fiat upper playing surface,

b. a simulated shooting figure movable mounted for translation over said playing surface and rotatable about its vertical axis,

c. a closed endless path in which said shooting figure translates,

d. power means for driving said shooting figure around said endless path,

e. player-controlled means mounted on said body for controlling the rotation of said shooting figure about its vertical axis and for controlling said power means,

f. at least one movable target for said shooting figure movably mounted on said piaying surface, and

g. means for indicating a hit when said simulated shooting figure is correctiy aimed at said movable target, said player-controlled means having a trigger member to actuate said indicating means to indicate a hit if said shooting member has been correctly aimed.

2. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein the path is a slot in the fiat surface and wherein the shooting member is connected through the slot to a motion-causing element, which causes the shooting member to translate along the path from time to time.

3. A game as recited in claim 2, wherein the motion-causing element is an arm connected to a motor.

4. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein the player-controlled means is a pistol grip extending from the body.

5. A game as recited in claim 4, wherein the triggering member is situated on the pistol grip.

6. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein a real-life situation in which shooting might take place is simulated in scaleddown form on the flat surface of the body.

7. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein the shooting member is a simulated human figure with a firearm.

8. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein each target member is caused by a ciosing of an action switch to appear in view as the shooting member approaches a suitable firing location and caused by a timer-operated switch to disappear after a predetermined time has elapsed, if it has not previously been caused to disappearby other means. I 7

9. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein a system of slidecontact switches is arranged in sequential order to determine the order and accuracy of the various operations of controlling the power means for the shooting figure, aiming the shooting figure at the target, and actuating said means for indicating a hit.

10. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein a player-operated stopping switch is provided for controlling said power means whereby the shooting member can be stopped in its path at the will of the player.

11. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for aiming the shooting member consists of a gun grip mounted on the body for pivotal motion about a vertical axis, a crank arm extending from the gun grip, a flexible line connected on one end to the crank arm, a bell crank mounted in the body for hinged motion about a horizontal axis and having a first arm to which the other end of the line is attached, a cylinder mounted for vertical sliding motion in bearings mounted on the body and contacted on its lower end by another arm of the bell crank, a line connected at one end to the upper end of the said cylinder, a motion arm pivotally mounted at one end for rotation about the axis of the cylinder, a table rotatably mounted at the other end of the motion arm and carrying the shooting member, the other end of the last-named line being connected to the said table for the rotation thereof.

12. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein means is provided to stop the shooting member and, if said trigger member is not actuated within a determined time, to cause the shooting member to start again to move around the path. 

1. A game, comprising a. a box-shaped body having an approximately flat upper playing surface, b. a simulated shooting figure movable mounted for translation over said playing surface and rotatable about its vertical axis, c. a closed endless path in which said shooting figure translates, d. power means for driving said shooting figure around said endless path, e. player-controlled means mounted on said body for controlling the rotation of said shooting figure about its vertical axis and for controlling said power means, f. at least one movable target for said shooting figure movably mounted on said playing surface, and g. means for indicating a hit when said simulated shooting figure is correctly aimed at said movable target, said playercontrolled means having a trigger member to actuate said indicating means to indicate a hit if said shooting member has been correctly aimed.
 2. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein the path is a slot in the flat surface and wherein the shooting member is connected through the slot to a motion-causing element, which causes the shooting member to translate along the path from time to time.
 3. A game as recited in claim 2, wherein the motion-causing element is an arm connected to a motor.
 4. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein the player-controlled means is a pistol grIp extending from the body.
 5. A game as recited in claim 4, wherein the triggering member is situated on the pistol grip.
 6. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein a real-life situation in which shooting might take place is simulated in scaled-down form on the flat surface of the body.
 7. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein the shooting member is a simulated human figure with a firearm.
 8. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein each target member is caused by a closing of an action switch to appear in view as the shooting member approaches a suitable firing location and caused by a timer-operated switch to disappear after a predetermined time has elapsed, if it has not previously been caused to disappear by other means.
 9. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein a system of slide-contact switches is arranged in sequential order to determine the order and accuracy of the various operations of controlling the power means for the shooting figure, aiming the shooting figure at the target, and actuating said means for indicating a hit.
 10. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein a player-operated stopping switch is provided for controlling said power means whereby the shooting member can be stopped in its path at the will of the player.
 11. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for aiming the shooting member consists of a gun grip mounted on the body for pivotal motion about a vertical axis, a crank arm extending from the gun grip, a flexible line connected on one end to the crank arm, a bell crank mounted in the body for hinged motion about a horizontal axis and having a first arm to which the other end of the line is attached, a cylinder mounted for vertical sliding motion in bearings mounted on the body and contacted on its lower end by another arm of the bell crank, a line connected at one end to the upper end of the said cylinder, a motion arm pivotally mounted at one end for rotation about the axis of the cylinder, a table rotatably mounted at the other end of the motion arm and carrying the shooting member, the other end of the last-named line being connected to the said table for the rotation thereof.
 12. A game as recited in claim 1, wherein means is provided to stop the shooting member and, if said trigger member is not actuated within a determined time, to cause the shooting member to start again to move around the path. 